Epilogue to blowup issue and new question

Umustbekidn · 1089

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Offline Umustbekidn

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on: July 27, 2019, 02:12:53 PM
Howdy,
Referring to forum topic "Something blown after changing power tube", link:
https://forum.bottlehead.com/index.php?topic=11300.msg102697#msg102697

1) Lesson learned:
  • Paul is right - Don't use a $12 dollar voltmeter from home depot.
  • Do double check household line voltage with more than one VOM
  • Harbor Freight $35 voltmeter works great. No need to buy a Fluke.
  • Always keep leftover wire, you may need it again.

So after I rewired the input wiring for >115 volts, the amp seems to work fine. But...

2) New Question:
I heard a pop come from the crack amp after replacing the power tube (see article above). I also can smell something that makes me think one or more of my capacitors was overloaded somehow (though I can't see any evidence of it, and the amp seems to be working).

Should I replace all the capacitors just to be sure?

Thank you kindly.



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #1 on: July 27, 2019, 02:20:26 PM
How are your voltages?  A blown capacitor will act like a short circuit and drag any DC voltage down that appears across it until it explodes and blows out hot stinky goo all over the place.  If the top isn't bulging and the DC voltages look OK, there isn't a need to replace the caps until the amp is 15-20 years old.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man